The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 eBook

and red hues, are looking at one another. And
the cranes are seen near the spots covered with green
and reddish grass, and also by the side of the cascades.
And those birds, bhringarajas, and upachakras, and
herons are pouring forth their notes charming to all
creatures. And, lo! with their mates, these elephants
furnished with four tusks, and white as lotuses, are
agitating that large lake of the hue of lapises.
And from many cascades, torrents high as several palmyra
palms (placed one upon another) are rushing down from
the cliffs. And many argent minerals splendid,
and of the effulgence of the sun, and like unto autumnal
clouds, are beautifying this mighty mountain.
And in some places there are minerals of the hue of
the collyrium, and in some those like unto gold, in
some, yellow orpiment and in some, vermilion, and
in some, caves of red arsenic like unto the evening
clouds and in some, red chalk of the hue of the rabbit,
and in some, minerals like unto white and sable clouds;
and in some, those effulgent as the rising sun, these
minerals of great lustre beautify the mountain.
O Partha, as was said by Vrishaparva, the Gandharvas
and the Kimpurushas, in company with their loves,
are visible on the summits of the mountain. And,
O Bhima, there are heard various songs of appropriate
measures, and also Vedic hymns, charming to all creatures.
Do thou behold the sacred and graceful celestial river
Mahaganga, with swans, resorted to by sages and Kinnaras.
And, O represser of foes, see this mountain having
minerals, rivulets, and beautiful woods and beasts,
and snakes of diverse shapes and a hundred heads and
Kinnaras, Gandharvas and Apsaras.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Having attained excellent
state, those valiant and warlike repressers of foes
with Draupadi and the high-souled Brahmanas were exceedingly
delighted at heart, and they were not satiated by
beholding that monarch of mountains. Thereafter
they saw the hermitage of the royal sage Arshtishena,
furnished with flowers and trees bearing fruits.
Then they went to Arshtishena versed in all duties
of rigid austerities, skeleton-like, and having muscles
bare.”

SECTION CLVIII

Vaisampayana continued, “Having approached that
one, whose sins had been consumed by asceticism, Yudhishthira
announced his name, and gladly greeted him, bending
his head. And then Krishna, and Bhima, and the
devout twins, having bowed down their heads unto the
royal sage, stood (there) surrounding him. And
that priest of the Pandavas, the virtuous Dhaumya,
also duly approached that vow-observing sage.
And by his prophetic eye that virtuous Muni had already
known (the identity of) those foremost of the Kurus,
the sons of Pandu. And he said unto them.
‘Be ye seated.’ And that one of rigid
austerities, after having duly received that chief
of the Kurus, when the latter with his brothers had
seated himself enquired after his welfare saying, ’Dost